Dan Fleshler, who knows the progressive Zionist world as much as anyone, has an amazing post in which he imagines the conversation between an American Jewish leader who is trying to spin Gaza, and an Israeli consulate official. The importance of this post is that Dan knows how hasbara (pr) works and he is revealing the crisis of the soul that is rolling thru American Zionism right now, even while our politicians are spewing garbage. Emphases mine.
Q [American Jew]: I get that. Most people understand that. You don’t want rockets in southern Israel. Americans can relate to that. But what is this specific operation going to accomplish? What’s the end game?
A [Israeli consulate official]: We are striking at Hamas’ infrastructure to bring an end to the rocket firings on Israel, and to stop terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip.
Q: ….But you bombed the Hamas radio station. You bombed a jail and a police station. You bombed Islamic University. Are they part of the infrastructure that is firing rockets? Those people weren’t ordering the rocket attacks, or helping, were they?
A: It is hard to separate the Hamas’ military wing from its political one.
Q: But how did killing those particular people, and the women and kids who may have been nearby when the bombs fell, protect Sderot and Ashkelon from rocket attacks? Just tell me. I want to help.
A: We appreciate that very much.
Q: …I heard that Haim Ramon said on Israeli TV that the goal of the operation was to topple Hamas, not just destroy the military infrastructure and stop the rockets… And just now I read that Barak said you have launched “an all-out war on Hamas and its kind” and you are fighting a “war to the bitter end.” That doesn’t sound like a man with a limited goal. It sounds like he wants to wipe them all out. I’m supposed to say that on Channel 4 tonight? Is that the goal? A war to the bitter end? Or do I say we want regime change?
Related posts:
- dark night of the soul for another American Jew’s identity
- Fleshler: Once again, Israel misled its American Jewish supporters about its aims
- Outraged American Jews turn last night of Hanukkah into Shiva for Gaza
- I believe Hamas uses civilians as human shields
- ‘Jews Say No’ is holding all-night protest outside World Zionist Organization on Third Avenue right now!
{ 9 comments }
So what other options would you say that Hamas has Witty?
Let's test your claim to moderation by seeing if you have any concern for the Palestinians at all….
Posted by: stevieb | December 29, 2008 at 11:39 AM
To state "we recognize Israel's right to be Israel within 1967 borders, and will prohibit the use of military force against Israeli civilians in the areas that we have jurisdiction, regardless of the status of borders."
"We will participate fully with the Palestinian Authority, and fully adhere to laws and agreements that prior administrations of the Palestinian Authority has implemented."
"We will use all international and bi-lateral methods to assert a mutually healthy peace with our neighbor Israel."
"We recognize that we have participated in a cycle of violence, that has been and is avoidable, IF we apply diplomatic means to accomplish our social objectives."
"We respect Judaism and regard it as a valid religious path in the world, and will defend Jews rights to practise as Jews in the areas of our jurisdiction, and in our relations with other Arab communities."
"We will continue to assert for the rights of Palestinians for equal due process under the law, for all current and historical legal claims."
Posted by: Richard Witty | December 29, 2008 at 03:03 PM
On Israel's side:
"We acknowledge the historical and continuing suffering of the people of Gaza and of other Palestinians."
"We commit to assist in the welfare of all Palestinians."
"We commit to first, second, third, fourth… one hundredth, communicate by words and agreements, rather than by arms."
"We regard Arabs, Palestinians, Gazans as human beings, peers."
"We will continue to assert our people's rights to live peacefully without threat."
Actions speak louder than words. And what we are seeing now, coming from Israel, is the same thing that we saw two years ago directed at the people of Lebanon. I don't care what our dickless leaders say, or what apologists like Witty say; they can't white-wash the stench coming from that hateful little country, Israel. With a few notable exceptions, the majority of Jews in and out of Israel support these massacres of non-Jews. This is the 21st century, not the 5th or the 10th, and we can see with our own eyes the children being blown up, the cities being bombed. Are they crazy to think they can continue to act in this way before payback rolls around? The world is watching, people will remember, people will ask, "Where are the good Jews?"
Phil, can you just tell me if "ethnocentrism" is a diplomatic euphemism for racism, please, I just want to help.
Ana, there are plenty of good Jews. Their people are in the process of emerging from a sort of society-wide shellshock from the Holocaust. I already see action, both here (America) and in Israel, and I have no doubt that it is just the beginning. Remember the shministim? How old are they? 17? 18? They are children. Many Israelis are angered by them, but they cannot avoid the knowledge that they exist, which I think will stick in the craws of the extremists in exactly the same way racist white Southerners were disconcerted to find other white Southerners who didn't agree with them. It's still early days. These people have a wide psychological chasm to cross, and I think this catastrophe is giving more and more the courage to take the leap.
If the real urge and approach chosen is to stop the violence in Gaza (and hopefully directed towards Israel as well), more power to you.
Is it?
That last post was not in response to Colin's but prior.
israel…that shitty little country.
The U.N. special rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, former Princeton University law professor Richard Falk, has labeled what Israel is doing to the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza “a crime against humanity.” Falk, who is Jewish, has condemned the collective punishment of the Palestinians in Gaza as “a flagrant and massive violation of international humanitarian law as laid down in Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.” He has asked for “the International Criminal Court to investigate the situation, and determine whether the Israeli civilian leaders and military commanders responsible for the Gaza siege should be indicted and prosecuted for violations of international criminal law.”
Falk’s unflinching honesty has enraged Israel. He was banned from entering the country on Dec. 14 during his attempt to visit Gaza and the West Bank.
“After being denied entry I was put in a holding room with about 20 others experiencing entry problems,” he said. “At this point I was treated not as a U.N. representative, but as some sort of security threat, subjected to an inch-by-inch body search, and the most meticulous luggage inspection I have ever witnessed. I was separated from my two U.N. companions, who were allowed to enter Israel. At this point I was taken to the airport detention facility a mile or so away, required to put all my bags and cell phone in a room, taken to a locked, tiny room that had five other detainees, smelled of urine and filth, and was an unwelcome invitation to claustrophobia. I spent the next 15 hours so confined, which amounted to a cram course on the miseries of prison life, including dirty sheets, inedible food, and either lights that were too bright or darkness controlled from the guard office.”
The foreign press has been, like Falk, barred by Israel from entering Gaza to report on the destruction.
"We will continue to assert our people's rights to live peacefully without threat."
How come that isn't on the Hamas side?
Palestinians are constantly attacked by Israeli – do they not have the right to live peacefully without threat and military occupation?
Your too funny, Witty.
But generally what you ask for has been accepted by Hamas. Look it up.
You probably know that too. But in your haste to protect Israel from war-criminal charges and worse, you simply cannot see the massive crimes of your people.
You are in denial, Witty.
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